Very quickly I did make a mistake in the episode, I said that Ali, the son-in-law / cousin of Mohammed was a prophet, ah, he's not considered a prophet

he's just considered the rightful leader of Shia Islam and also I didn't even mention any animals in Iraq!

The national animal is the Chukar partridge. They also have some ibexes, orexes, but anyway, yeah, we're gonna talk about some flags and symbolism, shall we?

Without further ado!

[Flag Friday intro]

Alright, you guys are gonna like this one because once again just like last week, you know why, but first ...

The flag is a horizontal tricolor of red, white and black with the ''takbir'' or the phrase ''God is the greatest''

written in green, arabic Kufic script letters. The black stands for the oppression and triumph of the people,

the white symbolizes the bright future in generosity of the Iraqi people

AND THE RED STANDS ... for ...

♫ blood of those who fight for freedom (x2) ♫

Again thank you to the one and only Ken for making that animation. Quick side note: Ken was actually supposed to be in a very quick section of the video

in which I punched him, however the audio was way off so I couldn't use the footage.

Anyway, keep in mind that this current flag is actually pretty new considering they have gone through a lot of flag switches in the 20th century.

There's a trapezoid flag during the kingdom years and when Egypt and Syria tried to create a singular republic, Iraq and Jordan in response kind of joint forces and made a short-lived federation

which used the same flag used by Palestinians today. They even at one point made a flag that gave recognition to the Kurdish minority

with a yellow sun. Then, they used three stars to symbolize how the kinda regret it not joining the union with Egypt and Syria, then the Takbir was added

and the stars were taken away AND here we are today! So, that pretty much covers the flag, now the COAT OF ARMS!

The coat of arms is pretty straightforward as well. It contains a golden-black eagle of the Saladin, which is typically associated with Pan-Arabism.

On top of the eagle bears a shield with the Iraqi flag configuration and below the eagle holds a scroll that says Jumhuriyat al-`Iraq,

which means ''the Republic of Iraq''. That's about it, pretty simple! Pan-Arabism, the takbir, good to go.

And with all that done, here the time it is ... GEOGRA-FANMAIL TIME!!!

So, we got quite a bit of stuff. I'm gonna try open as much as I can. I was actually thinking I could use a lot of the stuff you guys sent for the geography bees

at the schools that I'm gonna visit, so ... yeah ... I'll use some of your souvenirs.

Ahh first one Igor from Mexico! ''Hey Barbs, my wife and I love your program. I wanted to send you a photo notebook I made about my hometown San Louis Potosi

It's not very touristy, but the nature is nice and amazing''

Thanks a lot man, this is really cool

This is from Oliver from Thailand! Oh, we've never got anything from Thailand yet! Of course, the Thai flag

''I'm half French and half Thai. I live in the beautiful city of Pataya. I've sent you three flags. One is the Thai flag, the yellow one is the flag that represents the king of Thailand

and the blue one represents the queen, the mother of Thailand''. Dude, I didn't know the king and queen have their own flags, it's pretty cool.

I learned something. I'M LEARNING TOO!!!

Thomas from New Jersey, thank you for sending these old 50 French franc banknote.

The cool thing is if you look at it, it actually has Le Petit Prince on it.

This is cool. A package from Kazakhstan, I've never got anything from Kazakhstan. OHHH it's a book, let's see if I can read Cyrillic script.

[trying to read cyrillic scipt]

Ohh, it's literally written in English here, recipeeees, the Kazakh flag, all these notable sites of Kazakhstan.

Aziz thank you so much, I can't wait for the Kazakhstan episode either.

Speaking of postcards, we've got a ton of them sent.

Deven, who worked and volunteered in Malawi, Jason who of course visited China, Felix from Vancouver, think your name is Oche, who lives in Borneo.

Vien who lives in South Africa, but visited Svalbard, Norway. Seva who visited the Rheinland area, Christian from Belfort, France

This guy I think his name is Nada, he sent this from Laos and Aliet who sent it from Stakom, Sweden. Christian from Estonia, of course a little Estonian flag, postcards of Estonia.

''My name is Chris, I'm originally from Latvia and at the moment I'm in beautiful Estonia''.

- ''Question: do you like ice hockey?'' - I, I've skated, but I've never actually played ice hockey. All I know is I love watching Canadian ice hockey, 'cause they always end up in fights.

Daniel from Georgia. Duuudeeee, he sent this watch. It's a watch with the map on it, it's like geogra-watch.

Look at that, haha. This is from Malaysia: ''Hey Barbs, I am Ekmo from Malaysia. In preparation for the Ireland episode don't forget to mention

the Irish Boy Band, Boy Zone and Westlife. Alright, thanks a lot Ekmo from Malaysia, who strongly suggests information for the Ireland episode.

Braian from Taiwan: Hey, my name is Brian, I'm an Americal expel living in Taiwan. I've had a rough start, but nearly 5 years later I married and we have two baby boys.

Ah congrats man! Check, he drew an entire like map of Taiwan. Now, you saw in China episode about all these disputes.

And I think it's really cool how you have such enthousiasm for this place Braian, so kudos to you.

Thanks to Jack from New Zealand for sending a picture of his neighbor's cat?

Dean from Devonport, Tasmania and on the back he drew a picture of Tasmania and like Victoria, he also sent a myki card, which you use to get on the train

I think in Melbourne, is that right? You just tell me to go to Australia, aren't you? You like kinda prepare me for a trip to go there.

Jedin from Michigan, however his mom is from the Philippines and his dad is from Ethiopia and he sent an old Philipino Peso and Ethiopian Birr.

That's so cool, it's like the heritage of your parents in money form.

Jasmine from Claremont, Minnesota. OK, check it. Jasmine, she, this, this girl, she gets it. And check it, she drew me. That's all cool. Thanks a lot, Jasmine

''Hey Barbs, I'm Bettina and I'm from New York City, but my dad is Jamaican and my mom is half British and half Italian.''

''Here are some basic Patois word you can learn.''

Patois is so cool, it's like I can kinda of understand them, but then I say wah

Alex from Massachusett. So he made a South America countryball image. That's pretty cool and he made Bandiaterra!

Allen from Slovenia, AGAIN, you're like the 14th person from Slovenia. It's so many Slovenians watch the show!

God, are you telling me to go to Slovenia?

''Hey Barbs, my name is Allen from, yeah you know, sLOVEnia'' and he like highlighted the ''LOVE''.

''I'm from a small town, try to pronounce it ... Crensovci ... in the region of Prekmurje.''

''If you come you have to try a dessert Prekmurska gibanica.'' Sent these Slovenian postcards.

A Slovenia magnet, a Slovenia wood plack thing, Slovenians love your country so much and this I ❤ Slovenia shirt.

XL? YOU CALL ME FAT? That's OK, let's put it on. It's too big for me. I know I'm an American, but dude I'm not that fat!

Anyway, thanks a lot Allen. SLOVENIA! And finally this is frommmmm ...

... the UK. Are you ser ... Snacks! Jaffa cakes, dairy milk buttons, Cadbury fingers, ohh wine gums, I've heard of these, I saw a Youtuber,

a British Youtuber made a video on it. I forgot his name ... you know, the British one, the British guy.

He's from England, which by the way is totally a city [laughting], Nick Crompton like I know Jake Paul wrote those lyrics, but it's like Nick Crompton agreed to say that.

Anyway, England city thank you!

''Hey Paul, hope you're well. My name is Niko, I'm originally from Crete in Greece, but I live in Birmingham.''

''I'm sending you some small gifts, I wish you the best of luck in everything you do''

Thanks a lot Niko!

And guys one last before we go, you know we do. RETURN ADDRESS CONTEST!

So, I put all your return addresses into this bag and then I pick one and whoever wins I'm gonna send a little gift to. So, I'm not gonna look, I'm just gonna pick one.

Let's see!

Keo from Sweden, Kalle from Sweden. Sweden, you just won

So thanks a lot guys, it's really fun to interact with you guys and see what you guys send. I'm gonna use of the stuff you sent me as souvenirs

for the geography bee when I do the school visits. So thank you for sending all the stuff, it'll be really cool and used for education.

Subscribe if you want, you've just been flagged (I remembered to say that this time). Stay cool, stay tuned!

[Music]